kimbrough



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R. H. KIMBROUGH. WHEEL ATTACHMENT FOR LEGS.

No. 591,925. Patented Oct. 19, 1897.

S w M m H W UNITED STATES PATENT DEEicE.

ROBERT II. KIMBROUGII, OF VIOLA, INDIAN TERRITORY.

WHEEL ATTACHMENT FOR LEGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,925, dated October 19, 1897.

Application filed September 19, 1896. Serial No. 606,412. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. KIMBROUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Viola, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TVheel Attachments for the Legs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to wheel or roller attachments for the legs, the object of the same being to provide a simple device for attachment to the legs whereby great speed may be attained over rough and uneven roads with a small amount of exertion on the part of the operator.

The invention consists of a Wheel-support having downwardly-extending forks, a shaft or axle connecting the lower ends of said forks with a wheel or roller mounted for r0 tation upon said shaft or axle, a ratchet-wheel upon the inner surface of the hub of v said wheel, a foot-rest pivotally mounted upon the inner end of said shaft or axle, a pawl on said foot-rest adapted to engage the teeth on said ratchet-wheel, a brake-lever pivoted to the upper end of said inner fork, a brakeshoe thereon adapted to engage the outer periphery of said wheel or roller, a rod or pitman connecting the forward and rear ends, respectively, of saidbrake-lever and said footrest, and a slidingly-mounted clip upon the inner fork, whose arms are adapted to partially embrace the leg of the wearer and to be attached thereto by means of straps or other analogous devices.

The invention also consists in other details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claim ed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig.3 is a front elevation.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The support 1 has two downwardly-extending forks 2 3 thereon, which are connected at their lower ends by a shaft or axle 4, which extends inwardly beyond the inner fork 2 a short distance. Mounted for rotation upon the shaft or axle 4 is a wheel or roller 5, the same being formed of light but strong material with a series of radial spokes and of a size which may vary from a few inches to sev- 'eral feet in diameter. On the inner side of the hub of the wheel or roller 5 is a ratchetwheel '6, which is adapted to be engaged by a spring dog or pawl 7, mounted upon the under side of a foot'rest 8, pivoted to the inner end of the shaft or axle 4. Pivoted to the upper end of the inner fork 2 is a brake-lever 9, normally held in its raised position by a spring 10, and having a laterally-extending arm or projection 11 thereon, to which is connected a brake-shoe 12. The said brake-shoe lies directly above the upper edge or periphery of the wheel or roller 4, and is adapted to be drawn down in close contact therewith by the depression of the rear end of the foot-rest 8, which is connected to the forward end of said brake-lever "by means of a rod or pitman 13.

w The foot-rest 8 may be provided, if desired, with securing-straps 14 14, for the purpose of preventing the foot from slipping therefrom. Slidingly mounted on the inner fork 2 is a metallic clip 15, the same having curved arms 16 16 thereon, shaped to conform to the leg of the wearer and adapted to partially embrace the leg. The outer ends of the arms 16 16 have connected to them straps 17 17, for the purpose of attaching the device to the leg. The adjustability of the clip 15 is attained in any suitable manner, but I prefer to form the inner fork 2 dovetailed in cross-section, and provide upon the inner edge of the clip 15 a socket or groove adapted to fit around the beveled edges of said fork, so that an up-anddown movement is permitted, but lateral displacement is prevented' From the foregoing description it Will be seen that I have provided a simple and convenient device for the purpose, which is easily attached to and removed from the leg of the operator.

In using the device, the same is attached in the manner described andis operated after the manner in which roller-skates are used. Great speed is attainable at a small expense of power, and the same may be used over rough and unevenroads. A balance-rod may be carried by the operator, if desired, for supporting him when in a stationary position. Backward movement of the wheels is prevented by the engagement of the spring-actuated dog or pawl 7 with the teeth upon the ratchet-wheel 6, and when itis desired to slow down or stop completely it may be readily done by depressing the heel and raising the forward end or toe of the foot-rest 8, bringing the brake-shoe 12 in close contact with the outer periphery of the wheel or roller 4. The adjustable clip 15 is provided for accommodating the device to operators of different sizes or lengths of legs.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described wheel attachment consisting of a support having downwardlyextending forks, a wheel or roller mounted for rotation in said forks, a foot-rest pivotally mounted on the inside of the inner fork, means for attaching said support to the leg of the operator, a brake-lever pivoted to the upper end of the inner fork, a brake-shoe thereon adaptedt-o engage the outer periphery of said wheel or roller, and a pitman connecting the forward end of said brakelever and the rear end of said foot-rest,whereby, upon the depression of the toeof the latter, said brake-shoe will be drawn down into contact with the periphery of said wheel.

2. The herein-described wheel attachment consisting of a support having downwardlyextending forks, a shaft or axle connecting the lower ends of said. forks and extending inwardly a short distance beyond said inner fork, a wheel or roller mounted for rotation upon said shaft or axle, a ratchet-wheel on the inner side of the hub ofsaid wheel or roller, a foot-rest pivotally mounted upon the inner end of said shaft or axle, a spring-actuated pawl or dog on the under side of said foot-rest adapted to engage the teeth on said ratchet-wheel, a brake-lever pivoted to the upper end of said inner fork having a laterally-extending arm thereon, a brake-shoe on said arm adapted to be forced into engage- 'ment with the outer periphery of said wheel,

R. H. KIMBROUGH.

Witnesses:

OvA 'ONEAL, W. R, DODSON.

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